Belief does not remove us from ordinary
life, so the "joy and hope, the grief and
anguish of the people of our time,
especially of those who are poor or
afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of
the followers of Christ as well" (Gaudium et Spes, 1). While it is
important to bring those joys and sorrows to prayer, we are
empowered by that same act of prayer to work to change our world for
the better. The Liturgy transforms us to be for each other and for the world what
the Church is intended to be: a community of servants in the Servant who gave
himself for the salvation of the world.

Why NPM in Grand Rapids in 2015?

We know that people have limited budgets for continuing education, so we try to keep costs as low as possible for our annual conventions. That's especially true this year, when we are working with a city dedicated to the arts, a diocese that offers strong support, and local volunteers who have been planning for our arrival for two years.

We also know that people sometimes must use their vacations to attend NPM conventions, so we try to offer the biggest "bang" for their time. Unlike other music associations, which focus on one or another aspect of music skills—organ or choir, for instance—NPM embraces all forms of music ministry in a pastoral environment that also connects music to ordained leadership, environment, the ethnic mixture that is the Church in the United States, social justice, and liturgical scholarship. Here, you can find it all! And all in one week! We are the only association that offers such a global vision and such variety in just one gathering.

We're in Grand Rapids for two reasons. First, we were invited (we don't go where we're not welcomed by the local diocese). And second, Grand Rapids is a very accessible city. Many of our members drive to our national gatherings, and Grand Rapids is located within a day's drive (or maybe two) for most of our members. For those who fly, Grand Rapids is served by five major airlines offering more than 100 daily direct flights from twenty-four major metropolitan areas, from Las Vegas to Fort Lauderdale, and from Houston to New York.

So if you are a pastoral musician who wants to gather with other people who share your ministry, come to
Grand Rapids. If you are a director of music ministries, a psalmist or cantor, a bishop, priest, deacon, or seminarian, a choir director or ensemble leader, an organist or keyboardist or guitarist, or if you play another instrument, join us in Grand Rapids. If you are a young pastoral musician, a music educator, or someone who needs time away in a retreat environment filled with prayer, filled with
music, filled with the support of other ministers, come to Grand Rapids. If you believe, as the bishops teach us in Sing to the Lord, that "God has bestowed upon his people the gift of song" and that "music is a way for God to lead us to the realm of higher things"; if you believe that the "Paschal hymn . . . leads us through the church doors to the whole world, with its joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties," join us and "let the servant Church arise!"

Features

Program Scholarships:
College Student Music Ministers

Through the generosity of two scholarship donors—Steve Warner and the Notre Dame Folk Choir—NPM is delighted to offer program scholarships to college students currently working in campus ministry programs. These scholarships cover the cost of full registration for the 2015 NPM Annual Convention; recipients are responsible for all other expenses, including programs that require additional fees. Additional program scholarships for the convention are available for other candidates. Applications and more information.

Program Scholarships: NPM Program Scholarship Fund Paluch Family Foundation/World Library Publications Program Scholarships

NPM program scholarships are made possible through the generosity of NPM members who have made financial contributions to the NPM Program Scholarship Fund. These scholarships are provided to assist pastoral musicians with limited financial resources in taking advantage of opportunities for continuing formation at NPM conventions and institutes.

The Paluch Family Foundation and World Library Publications (WLP) have donated $2,500 for program scholarships. These scholarships are provided to assist pastoral musicians with limited financial resources in taking advantage of opportunities for continuing formation at NPM conventions. Applications and more information.

Electronic Program Book

We are offering you an option to take $20 off your registration fee! If you travel everywhere with your tablet device and would like to download the program book before the convention, please indicate your choice on the registration form. If you elect to receive an electronic program rather than a paper one, deduct $20 from your registration fee (any type except complimentary) and you will receive a special link to download the program book at least two weeks before the convention. At registration you will NOT receive a book, thus saving us the cost of printing, and you the weight of carrying it around. Trees will thank you.